“I’ve been teaching a class in church for the past few years,” Stan began.
“What class is that?” I asked.
“It has gone by different names at different times,” Stan replied, “but it’s a class of the basics, intended for new Christians who are seeking to know more.”
“That’s great,” I replied. “That sort of thing can be really helpful.”
“Essential,” Stan said, “but it took me a long time to get there.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“When I first became a Christian,” Stan replied, “I attended that sort of class. Over and over. I think the class was called, ‘Christianity 101’. I sat in the same class every Sunday for a long time.”
“Then,” he continued, “one day after class the man who taught the class asked if he could talk with me about something.”
“What was that?” I asked.
“He said that he enjoyed having me in the class and was glad I was there, but he wondered if I knew that it was intended to be a ‘passing-through’ class.”
“What did he mean by that?” I asked.
“I asked him the same thing,” Stan replied. “And he took me to fifth chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, where the writer covers the matter of moving from being a student to being a teacher.”
“Student to teacher?” I replied.
“Yes,” Stan said. “It is another way of saying that I am to be constantly moving towards Christian maturity.”
Continuing, he said, “If I haven’t matured enough in my faith to be able to teach others what I have learned, I am heading in the wrong direction. I am not giving enough attention to what I am supposed to be learning about my faith walk with God.”
Concluding, Stan said, “I am very thankful for the teacher of that class, as well as for the writer of Hebrews, who showed me that I, along with every maturing Christian, am to be used by God in helping others to mature in their faith. That, I think, is what it’s supposed to be all about!”
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For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for some one to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. Hebrews 5:12.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for those who teach your word. Thank you for the truth that you want me to mature in my walk with you so that I, too, am able to teach others what you have taught me. I confess that too often I have not matured sufficiently to be able to teach anyone anything about you. Please forgive me. And please, Father, help me to follow every step in your lead in getting beyond the basics, stepping out in faith to greater knowledge and understanding of you so that you can use me for your purposes in helping others mature in their faith. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Things to think (and journal) about:
1. What is your biggest take-away from this devotional?
2. What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?
3. What is God saying to you to do personally?
4. Who can you share this with to make a difference?
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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
Waiting for the Train 